Fans, Owner Wish Iverson Best Following Outcome Of Hearing

NEW KENT — While Allen Iverson wore a suit and tie for his day in court, Donte Lewis wore Iverson's more familiar threads - a Philadelphia 76ers basketball jersey with the number 3 on the back.

Donte, a 10-year-old Newport News resident, rode 50 miles with his family to be at the New Kent County Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon for Iverson's trial on misdemeanor drug and weapon charges. After the NBA Rookie of the Year from Bethel High School accepted a plea agreement, he remained a hero in the eyes of his young fan.

``He's cool,'' Donte said. ``What he did was not right, but I still don't think he did it.''

When someone told him that Iverson did not deny the charges, Donte shrugged and said: ``If I was a basketball star, I'd carry a gun around, too. Especially in Philadelphia.''

In the minutes following the hearing, Donte was surrounded by reporters and photographers because (a) he was wearing an Iverson jersey and (b) he was talking.

Iverson himself, barely two weeks after issuing a statement vowing to set the record straight in court, spoke just four words in the courtroom.

Asked if he understood the agreement, which stipulated that the evidence was sufficient to find him guilty of the concealed weapon charge, he said, ``Yes, sir.'' Asked if he had anything to add, he said, ``No, sir.''

Likewise, 76ers president Pat Croce declined to comment on the outcome of the charges.

Asked why he made the trip from Philadelphia to attend the court appearance, Croce replied, ``Hopefully to show he is part of the 76ers family and that we do support him.''

Just before his Lincoln Town Car stretch limo headed toward tiny, tree-lined Route 249, Croce smiled at reporters' questions and said, ``Root for the Sixers.''

Along with the flock of journalists covering the hearing - including satellite trucks from five TV stations - a handful of fans turned out to catch a glimpse of Iverson.

Chris Williams, who will be a junior at New Kent High School this fall, said his image of Iverson was tarnished by this most recent run-in with the law.

``Maybe I'll still be his fan for a little while, but never like I was before this happened,'' he said. ``I don't think he should be able to play basketball this year, but they say he can.''

Williams expressed doubt that Iverson would be able to comply with the terms of his plea agreement.

``He already did one bad thing, and he'll probably do more if people don't watch him real closely,'' Williams said. ``You have to be pretty dumb to be carrying pot and a gun and driving about 95 miles an hour. I hope he does good, but I think he'll probably mess up again.''

Huston Lewis, no relation to the young man in the 76ers jersey, said he decided to stop by the courtroom after dropping his grandson off at football practice. Lewis, a retired sheriff's deputy, was not making any predictions about Iverson's future.

``I think he should shape up a little bit,'' Lewis said. ``He's just got to stay clean for a couple of years now.